Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha will be reunited with his mother, Ana Candida Evora, for the team's second World Cup group match against Uruguay this Sunday in Miami. The 40-year-old became an early tournament sensation after his heroic performance in the opener against Spain in Atlanta, where he made seven saves to secure a stunning 0-0 draw. Despite the achievement, Vozinha was reduced to tears after the match, revealing that his mother had been unable to attend due to visa issues and the high costs associated with entry.
The travel complications were linked to an immigration crackdown under President Donald Trump, which required citizens from dozens of countries, including Cape Verde, to post bonds of up to $15,000 to enter the U.S. While the requirement was later dropped for World Cup ticket holders, the high costs had already forced Evora to rule out the trip. Following Vozinha's emotional post-match comments, which went viral, House Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries intervened. Jeffries spoke with Secretary of State Marco Rubio to ensure the State Department assisted Evora, resulting in all fees being waived.
The U.S. State Department confirmed that Evora, who is traveling from Praia, has received approval to travel. While some reports indicated the delay was partly because she did not hold a valid Cape Verde passport, officials worked with authorities to resolve the situation. The sudden attention has catapulted Vozinha's Instagram following from 50,000 to 13.7 million. While teammate Deroy Duarte expressed happiness for the goalkeeper, Vozinha has asked for the focus to remain on football as the team prepares to face another former World Cup-winning team.